Burns and San Jose are not on the verge of agreeing to an extension just yet. [Part 1]

Right now, Brent Burns is at the top of the potential 2017 unrestricted free agent class. He has one year left on his contract, but all signs point to him re-signing in San Jose. After Brad Marchand signed an eight year deal with Boston, the focus has shifted to Burns; and NHL Insider Bob McKenzie has the latest details:

While Marchand's agent Wade Arnott had been working hard throughout September and during the World Cup to conclude an agreement with Boston, talks between San Jose GM Doug Wilson and Burns' agent Ron Salcer are not believed to be nearly as far advanced.

Neither Wilson nor Salcer will discuss where they're at, but it's my sense there hasn't been the same hard, number-crunching negotiations and trading of proposals that would suggest a deal is imminent or even close. The lines of communication, as the saying goes, are wide open, but the real work lies ahead.

Now, let's be clear on something here. This is not to suggest Brent Burns is not going to re-sign in San Jose or that the Sharks don't want him. Far from it. It's way too soon to even imply that (see Steven Stamkos-Tampa Bay Lightning for reference, please).

Until we hear otherwise, we have to presume Burns wants to return to San Jose and I'd say it's patently obvious San Jose wants Burns back. Wilson is a huge Burns booster.

McKenzie also suggests that Burns' AAV (average annual value) could be above Dustin Byfuglien's $7.6 million contract but below P.K. Subban's $9 million deal. Of course, term matters, and generally the shorter the term, the higher the AAV. As we wrote a couple months ago, trying to keep the length below seven or eight years is important considering Burns' age and style of play. Wilson isn't known for handing out those kinds of contracts anyway, but he very rarely has to deal with a player of #88's caliber.

So now, all we can do is wait. It's unlikely Burns signs a massive extension before the season starts. But we're still a long way from hitting the panic button. In the meantime, let's watch Pacific Division rivals scramble to sign their restricted free agents before the season starts. Anaheim has Hampus Lindholm and Rickard Rakell (KHL rumors and all) to lock up. Calgary needs to retain their young superstar Johnny Gaudreau. Around the league, Jacob Trouba has asked for a trade out of Winnipeg, while Nikita Kucherov and Rasmus Ristolainen are the other high profile RFA's who have yet to sign with Tampa Bay and Buffalo, respectively.

Stay tuned for updates on Brent Burns. Sharks hockey is back tomorrow! Preseason game against Vancouver.